AThe Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, December 27, 1959
Fischer In Tourney; Reshevsky Leads
The big news at the start of the tournament for the United States Chess Championship was that Bobby Fischer, 16-year-old defending titleholder, would participate after all.
The youngster had withdrawn because of his objection to the method of drawing for pairings and on the eve of the tournament opening Anthony F. Saidy of New York had been announced as a substitute.
At the last moment Jerry Spann, president of the U.S. Chess Federation, who had flown in from Oklahoma City, brought Fischer into line with the promise that the committee in future tournaments would draw numbers in the presence of the players or their representatives.
Fischer was pitted against former U.S. champion Arthur B. Bisguier of New York in the first round. The latter adopted the Petroff Defense, which led to simplification through several exchanges. The game was adjourned in a rook endgame in which Fischer had a strong passed pawn. This was sufficient to win in the second session after a total of 60 moves.
Fischer drew in the next two rounds against Robert Byrne and Raymond Weinstein. His score of 2-1 was equaled by Paul Benko, Herbert Seidman and James T. Sherwin.
The leader after three completed rounds was Samuel Reshevsky, outstanding star of the Western Hemisphere until Fischer outscored him in the last two national championships. Reshevsky won his first two starts against Sidney Bernstein and Edmar Mednis and drew with Benko.
Following are the detailed results and the standings of the players.
